Is any one listening?

MINISTER FOR Commerce Babulal Gaur recently disclosed that the City and State administration planned to have three more swimming pools, one each at BHEL, Ayodhya Nagar and Bairagarh, while the one at Mayur Park would be expanded.

Plans were said to be in final stages and work would be taken up anytime by the Capital Project Administration (CPA). Bhopalites will recall a few days ago, the construction of a swimming pool was planned at Koh-e-Fiza. I opposed this on the grounds that there was more urgent business waiting and the luxury of having one more swimming pool could wait. I'm sure none of those who matter paid any attention to my pleading or else the new projects would not have been trotted out soon after.

Presently all big hotels and country clubs have swimming pools and their rates are no higher than those of Government swimming pools.

Let us be clear that a large majority of middle and lower middle class people cannot afford going to a swimming pool/fitness club whether Government or the private one. Then what is the tearing hurry to construct these at the cost of other urgent issues?

Let me enlighten those who refuse to see what is more urgent. Recent heavy rains have badly damaged roads, they need repairs, willful encroachments pose severe traffic hazards, most lids on sewage manholes are in poor condition, City nullahs and rainwater drains need immediate and thorough cleaning.

Heaps of garbage lie everywhere for days on end, for want of public conveniences open places have been turned into open latrines, and the City's 3,000 slums, which are without basic facilities, need urgent attention.

I can go on and on. The City fathers instead of concentrating on development works in their constituencies waste their time in ugly spats leaving the City at the mercy of the elements of nature. They must get real and attend to basic needs of people who elected them. After basic needs have been met, luxuries that they plan should be welcome.